Climate of Our Future

From: Climate Crisis Coalition

Coal Execs Fight Back
By Steve James, Reuters, July 2, 2007.

“U.S. coal mining companies, which for years have been branded the bad guys of global warming, are fighting back. They are questioning not only the science but also the motives of some of the big-name corporations who have made well-publicized commitments to cleaning up their act. At a recent industry conference in New York, Arch Coal, one of America’s ‘Big Four’ producers, stressed the need for research and investment in “clean coal” technology that would allow the country to utilize its abundant reserves while weaning itself off foreign oil. ‘If we want to address climate concerns, we need to invest more heavily in coal — not less,’ Chief Executive Steven Leer told the McCloskey Coal USA conference. ‘We cannot reduce foreign oil dependence without increased coal use,’ he said. ‘Debate can help advance clean-coal technology investment.’ A more outspoken executive, Robert Murray, chairman and chief executive of Murray Energy Corp., warned the coal industry could collapse with the loss of 3 million to 4 million jobs if carbon dioxide emission controls are introduced. He has even put his money where his mouth is by refusing to do business with Caterpillar Inc. — a manufacturer of the very mining equipment his company needs. ‘There are a number of companies that are promoting constraints on coal use to achieve greater profits and/or competitive advantages,’ Murray said at the coal conference. He branded more than 20 major corporations that make up the United States Climate Action Partnership un-American for allying with environmental groups he calls ‘enemies of coal.’”